Happy Independence Day! Remember the American Revolution! While skirmishes and battles were taking place in 1775 and 1776, the pressure built for a stated public policy of complete separation from the rule of Britain, its King and Parliament. The Declaration of Independence served that purpose by having a spectacular effect on the colonists And, of course, the genius Thomas Jefferson, at age 33, was its principal author.

Before, and for decades after, Jefferson did and said a lot. It is unmistakable that we can see how so many of his values are lessons for us today. Here are a few quotable quotes from Thomas Jefferson.

In the Declaration itself, Jefferson had many complaints about the King. Here are just two.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained, and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

A link to the entire Declaration is included in ‘References’ at the bottom of this page. Jefferson lived another 50 years and died on July 4, a few hours before John Adams died. These next Jefferson quotes were taken from other sources.

“The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.”

“There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents… There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents; for with these it would belong to the first class… The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government, and provision should be made to prevent its ascendency.”

“The country is headed toward a single and splendid government of an aristocracy founded on banking institutions and monied incorporations and if this tendency continues it will be the end of freedom and democracy, the few will be ruling and riding over the plundered plowman and the beggar.”

“I hope we shall crush in its infancy the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.”

In conclusion, it does appear that Thomas Jefferson’s sentiments could equally apply to the way business is being done in Washington, D.C. Do you think Mr. Jefferson would approve? Or, have some of Jefferson’s worst fears come true?

Click here to contact your representatives in Washington, D.C.:
Our Elected Officials. Tell them you want
to be represented by the values of Thomas Jefferson.

– Byron

References:

“The Declaration of Independence,” Thomas Jefferson, July 4, 1776.

The Declaration of Independence.